April 10, 2015
D.C. Reeves
TideSports.com Managing Editor
Saturday is the dress rehearsal before the real dress rehearsal.
In the final closed scrimmage before A-Day, the first public look at where Alabama stands this spring, the Crimson Tide will take to Bryant-Denny Stadium to collect more data, build separation in position battles and, perhaps most important, stay healthy.
"In every aspect of what we're doing, we just need to play with better fundamentals, better execution on a more consistent basis, better focus, better ability for 11 guys to go out there and know what they're doing and do it fast," Saban said of the objectives for Saturday's scrimmage, which begins around 1 p.m. "That's really what we want to see at every position. There's not a position on the field that we're satisfied with in terms of where we are. There's not a position on the field that we're disappointed with, but we know that everybody has an opportunity to improve and that's certainly something we'd like to see."
For the second straight year, spring rhetoric whirls around the mystery at quarterback, where Saban has been relatively guarded in his comments about the competition. So much, in fact, that UA did not provide passing stats following the first scrimmage.
Jake Coker, David Cornwell, Alec Morris headline the group looking to replace Blake Sims.
"I think all the (quarterbacks) did some things that were encouraging. We're encouraged by the young players, how much they've improved during this spring and in some cases from last year to this year," Saban said of last week's scrimmage. "David Cornwell has done very well this spring. Blake (Barnett) being a freshman has done very well this spring. Jake has done well at times, and Alec Morris has done well at times. Cooper Bateman, who's playing receiver some just because he's a good athlete, is still getting some opportunity at quarterback.
"I think from a consistency standpoint, we're far from making a determination as to who would be first, second or third."
The worst news for UA from the previous scrimmage came at running back where Tuscaloosa's Bo Scarbrough suffered a torn ACL. Saban said Wednesday that Scarbrough had successful surgery and "We're hopeful that we'll be able to get him back for the season."
Without Scarbrough in the fold, either Ronnie Clark - who converted from safety during the season before an Achilles injury - and freshman DeSherrius Flowers should get carries behind Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake.
Defensively, Alabama is expected to be without defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson, who suffered a sprained knee and sprained ankle during practice on Monday. Saban said he would be day-to-day but that they would be conservative with his return.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1755625#sthash.LH1RX8yt.dpuf
D.C. Reeves
TideSports.com Managing Editor
Saturday is the dress rehearsal before the real dress rehearsal.
In the final closed scrimmage before A-Day, the first public look at where Alabama stands this spring, the Crimson Tide will take to Bryant-Denny Stadium to collect more data, build separation in position battles and, perhaps most important, stay healthy.
"In every aspect of what we're doing, we just need to play with better fundamentals, better execution on a more consistent basis, better focus, better ability for 11 guys to go out there and know what they're doing and do it fast," Saban said of the objectives for Saturday's scrimmage, which begins around 1 p.m. "That's really what we want to see at every position. There's not a position on the field that we're satisfied with in terms of where we are. There's not a position on the field that we're disappointed with, but we know that everybody has an opportunity to improve and that's certainly something we'd like to see."
For the second straight year, spring rhetoric whirls around the mystery at quarterback, where Saban has been relatively guarded in his comments about the competition. So much, in fact, that UA did not provide passing stats following the first scrimmage.
Jake Coker, David Cornwell, Alec Morris headline the group looking to replace Blake Sims.
"I think all the (quarterbacks) did some things that were encouraging. We're encouraged by the young players, how much they've improved during this spring and in some cases from last year to this year," Saban said of last week's scrimmage. "David Cornwell has done very well this spring. Blake (Barnett) being a freshman has done very well this spring. Jake has done well at times, and Alec Morris has done well at times. Cooper Bateman, who's playing receiver some just because he's a good athlete, is still getting some opportunity at quarterback.
"I think from a consistency standpoint, we're far from making a determination as to who would be first, second or third."
The worst news for UA from the previous scrimmage came at running back where Tuscaloosa's Bo Scarbrough suffered a torn ACL. Saban said Wednesday that Scarbrough had successful surgery and "We're hopeful that we'll be able to get him back for the season."
Without Scarbrough in the fold, either Ronnie Clark - who converted from safety during the season before an Achilles injury - and freshman DeSherrius Flowers should get carries behind Derrick Henry and Kenyan Drake.
Defensively, Alabama is expected to be without defensive tackle A'Shawn Robinson, who suffered a sprained knee and sprained ankle during practice on Monday. Saban said he would be day-to-day but that they would be conservative with his return.
- See more at: https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1755625#sthash.LH1RX8yt.dpuf
